These days, it seems nearly anyone can become an instant Internet star, for nearly any reason. This is one of those stories. But follow along because this one is actually for a very good cause.

Have you heard about Curt's new hat? It's the latest bizarre viral sensation to take over the Internet. The odd little joke by Curt Oren blew up online and has made the Iowa native an Internet celebrity in places as far away as Brazil and Russia.

Oren purchased billboard space in Iowa City that reads "Do you know about Curt's new hat?" and includes a link to the website www.curtsnewhat.com. The website chronicles Oren's history as a prankster and even includes a photo of him wearing a hat with the words "Curt's New Hat" printed on it. He also has a T-shirt that reads "Do you know about my new hat?" and a personalized "NEW HAT" license plate on his car.

The idea of publicizing a new hat originated from a conversation with a friend last month. "We couldn't stop laughing when we thought about this," Oren said Wednesday. Then the idea began to evolve.

The website has been shared over 3 million times and Oren's story has been written about on websites in the U.S. and around the world. While the act seems like a dumb little prank, Oren actually has good reason for starting the "Curt's new hat" viral sensation.